Separable last



May 3, 1932. G R

s. cRoss 1,856,127

SEPARABLE LAS T Filed Aug. 15, 1929 Fig". l.

Patented May 3, 1932 GARRETT P. S. CROSS,

015 BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGHOR TO "UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF IPATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SEPARABLE LAST Application filed August 15, 1929. Serial No; 386,034.

This invention relates to shoe lasts of the se 'iarable type, that is, in which the heel part can be removed from the shoe leaving the forepart undisturbed.

it is desirable that the heel part of last of type should beheld firmly to the forepartand that the last should shorten rapidly from the beginning of the removing operation in order to facilitate ready removal H from the shoe.

ln accordance with an important feature of the present invention the heel part of the last is fastened to the torepart by interengaging bonding members which are diseninged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts, and means are also provided on the last "carts to prevent such movement when undesired. These means, as illustrated, comprise a projection on one last part and a cor- ;y responding depression on the other which prevent sliding movement and the projection and the depression are disengaged preparatory to collapse by another movement of the last parts, which, in the last shown,

7, is a rotation about a transverse horizontal axis.

it is of considerable importance that a last of this type be held rigidly in operative position to enable it to resist properly so the stres es impressed upon it by the leveli machi for example. Therefore, in acco law-c 1 another texture of the invention means is provided for preventing this rotary movement when undesired. In the M5 iltustratF-d last. a member is provided in one la. part. engaging' the other, to prevent accidental rotary movement. thus preventing uiulesired collapse of the last. This member is y nrefcrably in the form of a latch rotatablei 1 n the heel part and operable from the jackpin thiinblc hole to release the last parts.

.lnothe important ieaturc of this inven- 'eiid-es in the construction of this latch.

r secant faces of the last parts are pro- :aod with metallic plates carrying the mechanism described above, and the latch member is provided with a notch which embraces both plates when the last is in operative position. The latch thus prevents any looseness, always holding the two last parts in definite approximation, irrespective of the swelling or shrinking of the Wood.

F ig. 1 shows the last in assembled position;

Fig. 2 shows the last in the position immediately preceding collapse;

Figs. 3 and 4 show the joint surfaces of the forepart and heel part respectively.

The forepart 10 and heel part 12 are separated by a straight out 14., forming secant faces 14-? and la on the last parts respectively, with a very narrow open V 16 at its upper end. A long narrow depression 17 is hollowed out in the secant face 14F of the forepart to fita plate 18 (Fig. 8). This plate .18 has a depression 20, at the bottom of which is a screw 22 which fastens the. lower end of the plate 18 to the forepart. The up per end of the plate is rebent downward and torwald at 24, then bent forward at 26 and then upward at 28 (Fig. 1). A screw 30 beyond the last bend fastens the upper end oi the plate to the forepart. The plate 18 is slotted at 32, and the rebent portion 24 thus forms a fork or slot. The por ion 24 and the upper end of the depression 17 form in eltect a keyhole slot in the forepart.

The heel part 12 is recessed on its secant face 14* to take a plate 34 (Fig. l) which is fastened on by two screws 36, 38. These screws, as shown, engage threaded dowels 39, anchored by pins 41. The screw 36 contacts with a struck'up portion 40 of this plate. This portion 40 is of the same width as the slot 32, and the head of the screw 36 is considerably wider. The screw thus projects from the secant face of the heel part to a distance sufiicient for its head to he placed in the depression 17 (Fig. 3) and then slid down behind the bifurcations at 24, thus bonding the last parts together. The screw 38 passes through a boss 42 (Fig. 4) which rests in the depression 20 when the last is assembled (Fig. 1). The V 16 permits the last parts to turn relatively about a transversely horizontal axis (Fig. 2), that is, an axis extending from side to side of the last, to allow the projection 42 to clear the depression 20 when assembling or collapsing the last.

This rotary movement is normally prevented by a spring-pressed hook or latch 44 notched at 45, which has a rocking movement in the heel part and latches the two plates 18 and 34 firmly together when in operative position,(Fig. 1), the notch 45 engaging over both plates. This hook has a tail 46 which extends into the thimble hole 48, so that a properly shaped jack pin or tool 50 can press against it and tip the hook about its enlarged pivotal portion 52 (Fig. 2) to release the plates and enable the projection 42 to be lifted out of the depression 20, in preparation for collapse. The heel part can then be lifted heightwise releasing the screw36 from the fork at 24, thus disengaging the bonding elements 36 and 24.

In assembling the last, the screw 36 is placed just above the fork at 24, and the hook 44 in the lower part of the slot 32. Theheel part is then pressed down, the screw 36 passing behind the fork 24, and the boss 42 riding over the lower part of the plate 18 until it registers with the depression 20, the hook 44 meanwhile tipping up as the end of the slot 32 rises relatively against it. When the boss 42 falls into the depression 20 the latch 44 engages both plates and holds them firmly together. The elements 44, 42, and 20 thus prevent any sliding movement of the plates, and the last is firmly locked in assembled position.

It is clear that the bonding of the last parts is entirely provided by the metal plates 18 and 34. These are held in close and definite approximation by the screw 36 and the latch 44, the notch 45 just fitting the combined thickness of the two plates. The original adjustment of the last is thus preserved irrespective of the swelling and shrinking of the wood.

In disassembling or collapsing the last, the latch 44 is first disengaged as above described. The heel part is then rotated relatively to the forepart, closing the gap 16 and disengaging the elements 20, 42. The heel partis then slid upwardly and forwardly to bring the screw 36 into the upper end of the depression 17. This shortens the last substantially and the screw can then be readily freed from the depression 17 and the heel part removed from the shoe.

While, as a matter of convenience, the fork 24, the bottom of the slot 32, engaged by the hook 44, and the depression 20 are all formed on the same plate 18, it is obviously not necessary that they should be so formed. Their functions are all distinct, and three separate members could be provided for performing these functions. I have therefore defined the fork 24 as a bonding member irrespective of the presence or absence of the remainder of the plate 18.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, and interengaging bonding members located one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative rectilinear sliding movement of the last parts, said last parts having also second interengaging means arranged to prevent said sliding movement, the secondmeans being disengaged by relative movement of the last parts. 7

2. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, and interengaging bonding members located one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by arelative rectilinear sliding movement of the last parts, said last parts having also second interengaging means arranged to prevent said sliding movement,'the second means being disengaged by relative movement of the last parts other than said rectilinear sliding movement.

3. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, interengaging bonding members located one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative rectilinear sliding movement of the last parts, said lastparts having also second interengaging means arranged to prevent said sliding movement, the second means being disengaged by relative movement of the last parts other than said rectilinear sliding movement, and means for preventing said second-mentioned relative movement.

4. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, interengaging bonding members located one in the upper portion of each of the said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative movement of the last parts, said last parts having also a second interengaging means arranged to prevent said relative movement, the second interengaging means being disengaged by another relative movement of the last parts, and means for preventing said second-named relative movement comprising a member tending to hold the last parts against separation.

5. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, interengaging bonding members located one in the upper portion of each of the said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative movement of the last parts, said last parts having also a second interengaging means arranged to prevent said relative movement, the second interengaging means being disengaged by another relative movement of the last parts, and means for preventing said second-named relative movement comprising a tension mem ber tending to hold the last parts in Opera tive position.

6. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, inter-engaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding move ment of the last parts heightwise of the last, and means located bGlOW the bonding members to prevent said sliding movement.

7. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, revcrsely directed interenga iiging bonding members mounted one in the cone of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movei'i'lent of the last parts heightivise of the last, and means to prevent said sliding movement, said means being rendered inoperable by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis.

8. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, reversely directed interengaging bonding members mount-ed one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts heightivise of the last, means to prevent said sliding movement, said means being rendered inoperable by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis, and means for normally preventing such rotation.

9. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, reversely directed intercugaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts heightwise of the last, means to prevent said sliding movement, said means being rendered inoperable by a preliminary relative rotation of the last parts, and means for normally pr venting such rotation.

10. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, interengaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts. said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movenient of the last parts heightwise of the last, and means to prevent said sliding movement, said means comprising a projection rigidly attached to one last part and con structed and arranged to enter a corresponding depression in the other lastpart.

11. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart separated by a cut providing an open V at the top of the last, revcrsely directed interengaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts heightwise of the last, means to prevent said sliding movement, said means being rendered inoperable by a relative rotation of the last parts to close the V, and means for normally preventing such rotation.

12. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, reversely directed interengaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts height- Wise of the last, and means to prevent said sliding movement, said means comprising a projection on one last part constructed and arranged to enter a corresponding depression in the other last part and disengageable by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis.

13. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, interengaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged bya relative sliding movement of the last parts heightwise of the last, means to prevent said sliding movement, said means comprising a projection on one last part constructed and arranged to enter a correspondng depression in the other last part, and disengageable by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis, and means for normally preventing such rotation.

14. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, divided by an upwardly and forwardly extending cut, interengaging bonding members mounted one in the upper por tion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts heightwise of the last, means to prevent said sliding move ment, said means comprising a projection on one last part constructed and arranged to enter a corresponding depression in the other last part, and disengageable by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis, and means for normally preventin such rotation.

15. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having substantially straight secant faces, a. keyhole slot in the secant face of one last part and a headed projection on the secant face of the other last part arranged to be engaged and disengaged with the slot by a relative heightwise sliding movement of the last parts While the last is in a shoe, and means for normally preventing said sliding movement.

16. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having substantially straight secant faces, a slot in the secant face of one last part and a headed projection on the secant face of the other last part arranged to be engaged and disengaged with the slot by a relative heightwise sliding movement of the last parts While the last is in a shoe, and means for normally preventing said sliding movement, said means comprising an integral project'ion on one last part and a corresponding depression in the other last part.

17. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having substantially straight secant faces, a keyhole slot in the secant face of one last part and a headed projection in the secant face of the other last part arranged to be engaged and disengaged with the keyhole slot by a relative heightwise sliding movement of the last parts, and means for normally preventing said sliding movement, said means comprising a projection on one last part and a corresponding depression in the other last part constructed and arranged to be disengaged by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis.

18'. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having substantially straight secant faces, a keyhole slot in the secant face of one last part and a headed projection in the secant face of the other last part arranged to be engaged and disengaged with the keyhole slot by a relative heightwise sliding 'movement of the last parts, means for normally preventing sliding movement, said means comprising a projection on one last part and a corresponding depression in the other last part constructed and arranged to be disengaged by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis, and means for normally preventing such rotation. 19. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, reversely directed interengaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said bonding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts, means to prevent said sliding movement, said means comprising a projection on one last part and a corresponding depression in the other last part constructed and arranged to be disengaged by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis, and means for normally preventing such rotation comprising a slot in one of the last parts and a member on the other last part detachably engaged with a wall of the slot. 20. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart, reversely directed interengaging bonding members mounted one in the upper portion of each of said last parts, said hon ding members being disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the lastparts, means to prevent said sliding movement, said means comprising a projection on one last part and a corresponding depression in the other last part constructed and arranged to be disengaged by a relative rotation of the last parts about a transverse horizontal axis, and means for normally preventing such rotation comprising a slot in one of the last parts and a member movable on the other last part and detachably engaged with a wall of the slot- 21'. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having abuttingsecant faces, metal plates mounted one on the secant face of each last part, and a member constructed and arranged to engage both plates to hold them together.

22. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having abutting secant faces, metal plates mounted one on the secant face of each last part, and a latch having a notch arranged: to fit over both plates to hold the last parts together.

23. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having abutting secant faces, metal plates mounted one on the secant face of each last part, the plates having respectively a depression and a boss arranged to fit the depression, to prevent relative sliding of the last parts, and a latch member having a notch arranged to embrace both plates to prevent disengagement of the boss and depression.

24;. A separable last comprising a heel part provided with a jack-pin hole, and a forepart having abutting secant faces, metal plates mounted one on the secant face of each last part, the pl'ateshaving respectively a depression and a'boss arranged to fit the depression, to prevent relative sliding of the last parts, and a latch member mounted in the heel part and having a tail extending into the jack-pin hole and a notch arranged to embrace both plates toprevent disengagement of the boss and depression.

25. A separable last comprising a heel part and aforepart having abutting secant faces, metal plates mounted one on the secant face of each last part, interengagi-ng bonding means carried at the upperends of the plates, and arranged to be engaged and disengaged by a relative sliding movement of the last parts, interengaging means at the lower ends of the plates arranged to prevent such sliding movement, and disengageable by separation of the lower ends of the plates, and a notched latch arranged to embrace both plates to prevent such separation.

26. A separable last comprising a heel part provided with a jack-pin hole, and a forepart having abutting secant faces, metal plates mounted one on the secant face of each last part, interengaging bonding means car-' riedat the upper ends of the plates, and arranged to be engaged and disengaged by a relative heightwise sliding movement of the last parts, interengaging means at the lower ends of the plates arranged to prevent such sliding movement, and disengageable by separation of the lower ends of the plates, and a notched latch arranged to embrace both plates to prevent such separation, said latch being operable from the jack-pin hole to unlock the last.

27. A separable last comprising a heel part and a forepart having abutting secant faces,

metal plates mounted one on the secant face or each last part, interengaging bonding means carried at the upper ends of the plates, and arranged to be engaged and disengaged by a relative heightwise sliding movement of the last parts, interengaging means at the lower ends of the plates arranged to prevent such sliding movement, and disengageable by separation of the lower ends of the plates, and a hook mounted in one last part and arranged to engage the plate in the other last part to prevent such separation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GARRETT P. S. CROSS. 

